From: julie@pascal.org

On Sunday, August 31, 2014 5:14:52 AM UTC-6, William Vetter wrote:
> I have a question, and it might be a dopey one.
> 
> 
> 
> A couple months ago, I submitted a ms. to a magazine that only accepted
paper manuscripts, and it was probably the only place I'd want to send it that
didn't take electronic submission.  So I typed THIS MANUSCRIPT IS DISPOSABLE
on it and didn't include 
a return envelope with stamps on it.  I haven't done this very often in the
past, told them to throw out the ms.
> 
> 
> 
> An assistant editor sent me a letter in an envelope, with the address from
the masthead of the manuscript scrawled across it, that said, "Include a SASE
next time."
> 
> 
> 
> This was totally unexpected for me, because I think that a decade ago, I'd
pay to return the manuscript, and they'd mail me a rejection slip in a little
envelope.  Is this my imagination?  Has it always been normal to include
postage and stationery for 
your own rejection slips?
> 
> 
> 
> I know this makes me sound mental, but I hadn't submitted anything on paper
for maybe 8 years before that.

I think that the answer is "yes".

It's been at least that long since I submitted short stories to anyone, all on
paper, all with "manuscript is disposable" or something like that.  The SASE
is there so they can stick their form-check-list rejection in it.  And I sent
a stamped post card 
too, but I'm trying to remember why... I think it was "toss this in the mail
to prove you got my submission."  I know I bought a bunch of funny little
postcards for the purpose.

-Julie

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